Tobacco lath



P. E. H. DROEMER Jam 10, 1950 TOBACCO LATH Filed May 12, 1947 Patented Jan. 10, 1 950 UNITED v vs'rA'rrs err-ice Paul E. H. Droemer, Hartford, Conn.

Application May 12, 1947, Serial No. 747,352

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to tobacco laths.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for supporting tobacco leaves for drying thereof, which will clamp the stems of the leaves and hold the leaves spaced from each other so as to facilitate their drying.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tobacco lath which includes two hingedly connected together clamping members, with one member formed with a pair of spaced jaws, and the other member formed with a single jaw engageable between the pair of jaws to thereby effect a bend in the stem of the leaf. With a construction of this kind, stems of different thicknesses may be secured between the same clamping members, it being understood that the clamping members are of very substantial length so that a substantial number of leaves may be clamped in side by side relation with the stems bent slightly between the pair of clamping jaws by pressure of the single jaw.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco lath of this kind having hinges projecting above the clamping jaws so that the hinges will not interfere with insertion of leaves, the hinges being spring-urged to hold the jaws in clamping position.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tobacco lath constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals l0 and I l designate generally a pair of tobacco leaf clamping members which are each of elongated configuration. The clamping member [0 comprises a rear vertical plate l2 which has extending therefrom a pair of right angularly disposed jaws l3 and M.

The outer or forward edge of the jaw I3 is beveled as indicated at [5, and the outer edge of the jaw I l is beveled as indicated at IS.

The outer movable jaw II which is of T-shape comprises an elongated plate or head I 1 which has extending from the inner side thereof a pair of elongated strips l8 and I9, forming therebetween an inwardly opening channel 20.

A cushion member 2| projects from the inner edges of the channel forming plates or jaws l8 and i9, and is formed with a stem 22 engaging in the channel 20. The two clamping members Ill and H are adapted to be hingedly secured together by a series of upstanding hinge members generally designated as 23. Each hinge member 23 includes a stationary leaf 24, secured at its lower end to the jaw member 10, and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom so that the axis of the barrel 25 will be substantially coplanar with the jaws l5 and H3.

The hinge 23 also includes an outer leaf 26, fixed to and extending upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the plate l1, and formed at its upper end with hinged barrels 21 through which a pintle 28 loosely engages. A spring 29 is disposed about the pintle 28, between the inner barrels 21, and has one end 30 thereof anchored to the rear leaf 24, and the other end 3| thereof anchored to the outer or forward leaf 26.

The spring 29 is adapted to constantly urge the outer movable jaw ll toward the inner stationary jaw [0. By providing a hinge connection between the two jaws or clamping members ii) and II, as hereinbefore described, the stem S of a tobacco leaf may be extended partly above the clamping members in the angle formed between the leaves 24 and 26 of the hinges.

In the use and operation of this lath, the tobacco leaves may be engaged with the inner jaw member ID, and if desired the lath may be laid on a table with the outer jaw I! opened and the stems S of the tobacco leaves may be extended across the two right angle jaw forming members l3 and M of the jaw or clamping member Ill. The outer clamping member Il may then be released, and the pressure or tension of the spring 29 will be such as to form a bend, as indicated at 32, in the stem of the leaf'between the two jaws l3 and [4. In this manner the leaf L will be firmly clamped to the lath so that this lath may then be suspended from a suitable support, with the leaves secured thereto in slightly spaced relation. This procedure will eliminate the bunching or binding of the leaves together for drying in the drying barn, and will accelerate the dry.

ing period during which the leaves are dried.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed,but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is: REFERENCES CITED A tobacco lath comprising a pair of elongated clamping members, one of said members being i sg ggf ggf are of record in the channel-shape and the other of said members being T-shape in transverse section and compris- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ing a head and a stem said stem forming a. single Number Name Date jaw engageable between the sides of the channel, 713 101 Hosford NO 11 1902 a flexible resilient cushion member carried by said 1 4423750 Tucker Jan 16 1923 single jaw, and means hingedly securing said members together whereby tobacco leaf stems of 10 FQRE'IGN NTS various thicknesses may be clamped for sliding Number Country Date movement along the length of said lath. 6,096 Great Britain Man 10 1914 PAUL E. H. DROEMER. 

